I'm new to coffeegeek. I'm sorry if this has been answered many times before (I searched but did not find an answer), but what is the best grinder for grinding coffee beans for both espresso and french press? I have a Baratza Virtuoso but I can't seem to get a uniform coarse grind for my french press with it. Any thoughts?

The steps of the Virtuoso are too wide to get the optimal setting for espresso sometimes. If you need to switch between different settings regularly, you might want to take a look at the Baratza Vario, for example. With its macro and micro dial it has more than 200 settings, which renders ist virtually stepless, and its relatively easy to re-find a specific grind setting, e.g. for espresso and French press.

***"This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee, when he was urged to ban the beverage)

...or the Preciso, if you're on a budget. Mine does great for both. If your Virtuoso is new (made post-Dec. 2011), it might already have Preciso burrs, and in that case something's wrong if your coarser grinds are uneven.

I'm new to coffeegeek. I'm sorry if this has been answered many times before (I searched but did not find an answer), but what is the best grinder for grinding coffee beans for both espresso and french press? I have a Baratza Virtuoso but I can't seem to get a uniform coarse grind for my french press with it. Any thoughts?

I've checked out the Bodum but need to do more research on coffeegeek. So far it's sounding possible...

Hello, EricBNC-

Well, I'm now a graduate student. Need I say more? I would like to stay at $100 or less, if possible, with good quality and the ability to grind properly to make a good espresso (though I don't have a nice espresso machine, yet, either) as well as a consistent coarse grind for the french press. Perhaps it's an impossible dream. I looked at the photo of the coarse grind you included in your review for the Krups Conical Burr grinder and the grounds didn't look as coarse or consistent as I would think they should be for french press, but again, I'm very much not as knowledgeable as you all are so please bear with me. I asked the guy who roasts my favorite coffee here in town to grind a couple of Tbsp in his commercial grinder for me to use as an example as I grind my own for french press. Perhaps that's a standard too high for me to reach with any non-commercial grinder?

I appreciate all of these good suggestions and I will peruse the forums/reviews more to help me in my quest. Thank you!

I've checked out the Bodum but need to do more research on coffeegeek. So far it's sounding possible...

Hello, EricBNC-

Well, I'm now a graduate student. Need I say more? I would like to stay at $100 or less, if possible, with good quality and the ability to grind properly to make a good espresso (though I don't have a nice espresso machine, yet, either) as well as a consistent coarse grind for the french press. Perhaps it's an impossible dream. I looked at the photo of the coarse grind you included in your review for the Krups Conical Burr grinder and the grounds didn't look as coarse or consistent as I would think they should be for french press, but again, I'm very much not as knowledgeable as you all are so please bear with me. I asked the guy who roasts my favorite coffee here in town to grind a couple of Tbsp in his commercial grinder for me to use as an example as I grind my own for french press. Perhaps that's a standard too high for me to reach with any non-commercial grinder?

I appreciate all of these good suggestions and I will peruse the forums/reviews more to help me in my quest. Thank you!

Well, I'm now a graduate student. Need I say more? I would like to stay at $100 or less, if possible, with good quality and the ability to grind properly to make a good espresso (though I don't have a nice espresso machine, yet, either) as well as a consistent coarse grind for the french press. Perhaps it's an impossible dream. I looked at the photo of the coarse grind you included in your review for the Krups Conical Burr grinder and the grounds didn't look as coarse or consistent as I would think they should be for french press, but again, I'm very much not as knowledgeable as you all are so please bear with me. I asked the guy who roasts my favorite coffee here in town to grind a couple of Tbsp in his commercial grinder for me to use as an example as I grind my own for french press. Perhaps that's a standard too high for me to reach with any non-commercial grinder?

I appreciate all of these good suggestions and I will peruse the forums/reviews more to help me in my quest. Thank you!

Hello back - the espresso part of your request is the difficult grind - the Krups can actually grind espresso fine which isn't common for $100 or less. The best all purpose grinder I have for French press is the Preciso, but that grinder is $300. It is not three times better than the Krups, but it is a bit more consistent and retains less grinds at the finest settings - not sure it is as durable as the Krups though.

For espresso a dedicated grinder works best in the long run so buying the best you can afford for press and then later buying the best you can afford for espresso will give a lot of satisfaction.

I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?

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